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At an executive committee meeting Dec. 3, councillors voted to direct City staff to explore the possible retention of Brophy House with Transport Canada and report back to council.

"This is one of the last stone houses remaining in Pickering and there is hope to save this home," said Councillor Peter Rodrigues, who put forward the motion to direct staff to extend talks with Transport Canada past Dec. 31, which is when the City's current lease on the property expires.

"All I'm asking is that council direct staff to explore with Transport Canada the possibility of practical retention of the Brophy house subject to reaching a reasonable agreement. There are some last-minute possibilities to save this house. We're not committing to anything, it's just a slight delay to save a precious house in Pickering."

The stone home, located at 4355 Brock Rd., dates to the 1800s and was renovated by a private owner shortly before the land was expropriated by the federal government in 1972 for a potential future airport. It was rented out to various tenants after expropriation but has sat vacant for several years and is currently included on a list of properties scheduled for demolition by Transport Canada, which oversees the federal lands.

Coun. Jennifer O'Connell supported the motion, calling it a "stay of execution" for the historic building.

"The intention was never to keep it or continue leasing it, but perhaps we can look into subleasing," she said, noting the City has been successful in the past when asking for extensions on historic homes in danger of demolition, and pointing out that the costs for leasing, security and insurance were minimal.

"I don't see any harm in continuing the conversation. It doesn't bind us to anything, it just asks staff to continue looking and working with Transport Canada past that deadline. If nothing comes of it at least we tried, but if something does come of it we are protecting a significant and quite beautiful home in our city."

Councillors ratified the decision during a final vote at their regular council meeting on Dec. 10.